Century Ride...1/2 Marathon...Olympic Tri...50!

Like many young adults growing up, I didn’t take care of myself, instead I spent way too much time having fun!

In my early 30's, six months after my son was born, I watched my twin sister finish the NY Marathon. What an inspiration!  Not just watching her, but also seeing so many shapes, sizes and ages complete their goal.  I started walking and running and the following spring I did the Komen 5K on Mother's Day. From then on I continued to run and also started spinning and cycling on road.

I have moved several times since that first 5K (Pittsburgh, Durham NH, Rochester NY, Ann Arbor, State College PA & Miami).   These moves were difficult and I often felt depressed. Eventually I would slip into my running or cycling shoes and get back out there, which always made me feel better.  


I even added a Spinning Divas trip to my business, Go 'n Groove, Organized Women's Trips.  We've cycled the Finger Lakes (4) times and this summer I look forward to Seneca & Keuka lakes and the Hamptons as well as the 5 Boro Ride of NYC in May.

Last spring I lost a dear friend to oral cancer. That May, when I turned 49, I decided I wanted to "give back" as well as do something physical before I turned the BIG 50.  

I completed the Cocoa Beach Century last fall with Team In Training raising funds for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.  Late January, I finished the Miami 1/2 Marathon.   I am now training, again with TNT, for an Olympic Tri on Key Biscayne.  I chose TNT as a college friend of mine was diagnosed in May '08 from  a very rare form of T-Cell lymphoma and lost his battle from the disease that September.  In addition, I am training in honor of my "fellow Spinning Diva", Joan Geiger-Dow.  Joan was diagnosed with NonHodgkins Lymphoma Stage 4 (follicular) in 2004.and after many vaccines, chemo treatments, radiation, antibodies, etc., she has been disease free since September '08.

I never thought I would be able to do these events, but I also never thought I would witness so many friends battle (& some losing) their fight with cancer. I think of them as I train.

This May 25 (10 days after the TRI) I turn 50!  I will do so knowing I'm fit & fabulous!